Saturday, September 11, 2010

North Korea, where Christians suffer the greatest persecution.

North Korea.

Updated 21 January 2013

“Amnesty called on North Korea, one of the world's most secretive states, to close all political prison camps and to release all prisoners of conscience.”1
North Korea is first on Open Doors International's “World Watch List” of nations where Christians suffer persecution, for the eleventh consecutive year.2 Though the country remains closed to the outside world, economic hardship and widespread famines have created some openings for compassionate relief ministries.3
Korea was occupied by Japan from 1910-1945 and divided because of the insistance of the Russians after World War 2.24 Communist leaders gained control in 1948.3
In 1950 North Korea invaded the south the war continued until 1953.24 This war caused significant hardship.3 War nearly broke out again in the late 1990s but was prevented by diplomacy.3 Tensions between the two nations remain high.3 Though North Korea is closed to the outside world there are some openings for compassionate relief ministries due to the widespread famines and hardship.3 It is estimated that 300,000 North Koreans are hiding in China's north-eastern border region with North Korea.
Though there once many Jews and Christians in North Korea it is now one of the most ethnically homogeneous nations in the world. In 1993 the economy was close to collapsing with severe rationing of basic foods.4 It is estimated that between 2,000,000 – 3,500,000 people have died of starvation as a result.45 Billions in humanitarian aid have been shipped to North Korea, more than enough to feed the nation’s population, but government and academic studies have revealed that North Korea systematically diverted the aid, using it to bolster its military might while millions, for whom the aid was intended, starved to death.5

Population.

In 2008 the population was estimated at about 23.5 Million.6 The majority have never heard the name of Jesus.4

Language.

The official language is Korean which is related to Japanese and influenced by Chinese vocabulary.7

Land.

Eastern Asia 46,540 sq. miles (120,538 sq. Km).3 The Chaeryong and Pyongyang plains in the south west are the main agricultural land. 18% of the land is arable and 74% of the terrain is forested.7

Religion.

“Every religious activity is recognised as insurrection to the North Korean socialist principles.3
The government promotes 2 ideologies, strongly opposed to any form of religion:“Juche”, the self-reliance of man and “Kimilsungism”, the worship of the leaders.2

Christians.

There are about 2-500,000 Christians in North Korea.23
Before the war there was a revival started in North Korea. Pyongyang became 13% Christian (about 500,000 believers). Three churches remain for propaganda purposes, but nearly all believers are part of unregistered underground churches. Since the war with the South all churches and their members have been required to be registered with the government.3

Persecution.

“Harsh, growing.”3
Under the Japanese persecution of Christians was intense as people were pressed to adopt Shinto as the national religion.3
During the war most either fled south or were martyred. As the North Korean army was retreating they massacred Christians to prevent their liberation.3
At first the communists attempted to win the support of Christians while suppressing those working for political freedom. When this failed the government began an to systematically eradicate Christianity with the confiscation of church buildings and imprisonment of church leaders.3
North Korea is desperately mobilising every resource of power to control society in order to eradicate Christian activities. Combat campaigns of 100 and 150 days have been used by the government to try very hard to demolish the street market system. Many Christians have been exposed during strict searches. The North Korean regime has especially targeted secret Christians in these campaigns to arrest and kill them. “They have arrested and tortured Christians in various horrible ways, such as sometimes using them as a means of testing biological or chemical weapons.”8
People can be arrested and put into labour camps for simply hearing the Gospel.9 Christians who are discovered are either killed or put into labour camps, their families, being considered guilty by association can be punished too.10
In the first six months of 2011 more than 14,000 people fled North Korea. China is the first destination of almost all about 15% move to South Korea but most spend more than 3 years in China to cover their tracks.11 Some take the “underground railroad” to Thailand where they can go to South Korea with the aid of the embassy.12
The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem, describes the use of gas chambers for murders and medical experiments on political dissidents and their families as being similar to the holocaust under Nazi Germany.13
In spite of the persecution the Church is growing and opportunities to hear the Gospel are increasing especially near the border with China.8

Examples of Persecution:

  • Eddie Jun was arrested and accused of committing a serious crime against North Korea, spreading Christianity.14
  • Former North Korean officials and prisoners have said that in re-education camps and prisons Christians are singled out for harsher treatment.15
  • According to Amnesty International's Asia Pacific director, Sam Zarifi, the existence of mass political prison camps is no longer deniable. “Mr Zarifi said: 'Hundreds of thousands of people exist with virtually no rights, treated essentially as slaves, in some of the worst circumstances we’ve documented in the last 50 years.'” People are worked 16-18 hour days in dangerous conditions. Some died of starvation or as a result of accidents while others were executed.1

The Future.

The government may either launch new persecution or open up to the Gospel. There is optimism for the future of the church with the church growing rapidly. By 2050 there are likely to be more than a million Christians in North Korea. Many observers of North Korea expect the current restrictions to be lifted early this century. If this happens Christianity could spread quickly through the population just like it did in South Korea.3

Prayer Points:

  • That the leaders will come to know the Lord Jesus and that the time will come when Jesus may be worshipped openly.4
  • Believers to be able to safely obtain Bibles.4
  • For God to raise a revival initiated by the North Korean believers who remain.16
  • For grace, endurance and freedom for believers.4
  • For the people to become aware of a God shaped void in their lives, that only He can fill.4
  • For the many students who were in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics at the time of the collapse of Communism and heard the Gospel to stand firm and grow despite the hostile spiritual environment.4
  • For North Korea to open up to the Gospel.4
  • For discreet ways to spread the Gospel and for a large number will be ready to evangelise when North Korea opens up to the Gospel.3
  • For the emptiness of the worship of government leadership of be revealed and for people to seek the true God.3
  • For the creative means of getting the Gospel into North Korea to be successful.3



As always I encourage readers to seek more information by reading the Bible.
© Ken Glasgow 2013
This page was written using Open Office 3.3.0, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.



1“Daily Mail Reporter”, 2011, Revealed: North Korea's growing gulags where 200,000 are imprisoned and many don't even know what they're accused of, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1383718/Revealed-North-Koreas-huge-political-prisoner-camps-200-000-held-having-wrong-relatives.html?ITO=1490
2Anonymous, 2013, #1 North Korea, World Watch List 2013, http://www.worldwatchlist.com.au/country.cfm?country=north-korea.
3Companjen J & Long J, 2000, Please Pray For Us praying for persecuted Christians in 52 nations, Bethany House, Minneapolis, Minnesota, pages 108-111.
4Johnstone P, 1993, Operation World pray for the world, Crossroad Distributors Pty Ltd, Rydalmere, NSW pages 334-335.
6Anonymous, 2008, SBS World Guide 16th edition, Hardie Grant Books, South Yarra, Victoria, pages 397-400.
7Anonymous, 2002, SBS World Guide 10th edition, Hardie Grant Books, South Yarra, Victoria, pages 415-418.
8Anonymous, 2010, #1 North Korea, World Watch List 2010, http://www.worldwatchlist.com.au/country.cfm?country=north-korea. (Not currently at that U.R.L.)
9'Spiritualcourage' 2011, An Amazing North Korea Story, http://spiritualcourage.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/an-amazing-north-korea-story/
10'Spiritualcourage' 2011, Life in North Korea, http://spiritualcourage.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/life-in-north-korea/
11Joseph Yun Li-sun, 2011, Dissidents fleeing North on the increase, because Pyongyang and Beijing, http://www.asianews.it/viee4print.php?1=en&art=22011 (no longer at this URL).
12Patrick Winn, 2011, North Korea defectors take to the Underground Railroad”, http://www.globalpost.com/print/5649495 (no longer at this URL).
14Foster Klug 2011, N. Korea to Free Detained American, http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,9916,2074369,00.html (no longer at this URL).
15Joseph Yun Li-sun, 2011, The family of Dictator Kim Il-sung were devout Christians, http://www.asianews.it/news-en/The-family-of-Dictator-Kim-Il-sung-were-devout-Christians-21409.html
16'Spiritualcourage' 2011, How did North Kowea become #1 ofnthe World Watch List?, http://spiritualcourage.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/how-did-north-korea-become-1-on-the-world-watch-list/.
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